The Connected Life

Ever felt like asking hard questions about your faith might cost you everything? Like belonging, respect, or the relationships you once felt safest in? You’re not alone—and you’re not crazy for wrestling with it.

In part two of this two part series, Justin and Abi continue their vulnerable conversation on deconstruction, diving into the emotional, relational, and spiritual fallout that often comes with c...

At some point, many of us reach a moment when our beliefs no longer fit the reality we’re living. In this episode, Justin and Abi open up about their personal journeys through deconstruction—what it looked like, what it cost, and how it ultimately deepened their faith.

They unpack why questioning your faith isn’t rebellion—it’s often a necessary part of maturing spiritually. Whether sparked by suffering,...

For many couples, navigating hormones can feel like walking through a minefield—unpredictable, emotionally charged, and often misunderstood.

In this episode, Justin and Abi get personal about the challenges that come with PMS and shifting hormone cycles, offering a candid look into how it’s impacted their relationship over the years. From the physical discomfort to the emotional whiplash, Abi shares what...

Setting boundaries can sound easy in theory. But trying to implement boundaries when your nervous system is fried and you're knee-deep in a conversation that’s going off the rails is a whole different story. At times it can feel impossible, but with the right tools, anyone can become good at it.

In part two of this series, Justin and Abi get personal about the real-life messiness of learning to set and h...

For many of us, setting boundaries sounds reasonable outside of a romantic relationship. But what happens once you’re in deep—sharing a life, a home, and a bed? How do you navigate that kind of nearness?

In part one of this two part series, Justin and Abi get personal about the power of boundaries inside a romantic relationship. They unpack the painful dance between autonomy and connection and share the ...

Most of us never learned how to share pain in a way that brings us closer. Instead, we vent, shut down, accuse, or spiral into fear—hoping to feel understood but often creating more disconnection in the process. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In part two of this two-part series, Justin and Abi get practical about how to communicate pain in a way that invites connection. They unpack how all-or-nothin...

Most of us were never taught how to share pain in a way that brings connection. We were taught to explode, shut down, or stay silent—and those patterns don’t just disappear when we get into relationships.

In this episode, Justin and Abi explore the messy ways they both used to express pain—and the chaos it created in their marriage. From nonverbal shutdowns to emotional overwhelm and assumptions that tur...

Empathy can be one of the most destructive forces to connection—or one of the most powerful. Without it, relationships become cold and judgmental. But too much of it, without boundaries, and we lose ourselves trying to carry everyone else’s pain. So how do we find that middle ground?

In this episode, Justin and Abi unpack what healthy empathy looks like, and what happens when it gets twisted into judgmen...

We’ve all experienced those people that seem hot one minute and cold the next. Their mixed signals keep us wondering if they want to be besties or secretly planning our demise. The ups and downs of it can feel like a whiplashing rollercoaster. Solving the mystery can seem impossible, but we might just have your answers!

In this episode, Justin and Abi are joined by their long-time friend and fellow Life ...

Most of us don’t realize how much of our relationship pain is rooted in old stories—until those stories start playing out with the person we love most. It’s easy to blame our partners for the chaos in a relationship. But what if the truth is that we’re all just scared kids trapped in adult bodies, equally making messes as we search for safety?

In this raw and redemptive episode, Justin and Abi share the ...

Most of us were never taught how to feel emotions—let alone how to express them in a way that feels safe for us and the people we love. From family dynamics to gender norms to childhood survival strategies, our emotional patterns were shaped long before we had words to describe them.

In this episode, Justin and Abi dive into one of the most common relationship struggles: how we respond to emotions—both o...

Most of us were never taught to explore where our beliefs about sex came from—let alone how those beliefs affect our experience of it. From purity culture to porn culture, from family dynamics to religious messaging, our beliefs are shaped long before we’re ever in the bedroom.

In this episode, Justin and Abi have a candid and compassionate conversation about the belief systems that shape our sexuality. ...

Let’s be real—most of us didn’t get great sex ed growing up, and even fewer of us learned how emotional pain, shame, and past beliefs impact our sex lives. If your sex life has lost its spark or feels more like pressure than connection, you’re not alone. Many couples quietly struggle, unsure how to talk about it without blame or guilt.

In this episode, Justin and Abi open up about their own journey with ...

So many of us feel like we’re just going through the motions of life—rushing through tasks, ignoring our bodies, and avoiding the feelings that seem too big to face. But the more we disconnect from what’s happening inside, the more life starts to feel flat, disconnected, and exhausting. What if the real magic of life is found in slowing down and being present?

In this episode, Justin and Abi explore what...

Many of us have experienced moments of life that seem to unravel faster than we can hold them together. The crushing weight of our problems and pain can feel like they will leave us broken forever. But what if love has the power to change everything?

In this episode, Justin and Abi sit down with their good friend Kyle as he shares about his journey through profound trauma, grief, and emotional shutdown—a...

Attraction isn’t just physical—it’s deeply emotional. When couples struggle with intimacy, it’s often because unprocessed pain has created invisible walls between them. Many people unknowingly fall out of attraction with their partners due to unresolved hurt, leading to a sense of emotional and physical disconnection. When safety is compromised, self-protection kicks in, and attraction fades.

In this epi...

Nothing is more frustrating than feeling stuck in a relationship where your partner refuses to change. Maybe you’ve had the same conversation a hundred times, but nothing ever shifts. Maybe they acknowledge the problem but don’t take action. Or worse—maybe they don’t even see an issue at all.

In this episode, Justin and Abi dive into what to do when you’re hitting...

Betrayal cuts deep—not just because of the actions themselves, but because of what they shake inside of us. We choose to trust, to be vulnerable, to let someone in… only to have that trust disregarded. The pain isn’t just in the betrayal itself—it’s in the shame, the humiliation, and the reality-shattering confusion that follows.

In this episode, Justin and Abi un...

For many, the church has been a place of deep wounding rather than healing. Whether you’ve personally experienced pain or watched destructive behavior unfold, it can feel impossible to stay connected to faith when the place meant to embody love feels anything but safe.

In this episode, Justin and Abi explore the complexity of church wounds—why they happen, how they impact our sense of self-worth, and wha...